Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line and Society islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.

Biology
Glossary
(e.g. epibenthic)

Adults mainly inhabit coral reefs, sometimes forming large aggregations, which are mostly stationary during the day. Juveniles occur in seagrass beds, also in mixed sand and coral habitats of shallow sheltered reefs (Ref. 1602). Sub-adults commonly form very large schools that are stationary or drift slowly along slopes during the day. Large individuals along coastal slopes at moderate depths (Ref. 48635). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feed on fishes, and a variety of invertebrates including shrimps, crabs, lobsters, stomatopods, cephalopods, echinoderms and ophiuroids (Ref. 55).